New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to attend the inauguration ceremony of Maldives President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday.

Solih, who was elected in the September 23 elections, had last month invited Modi during a telephone call placed by the Indian Prime Minister congratulating the President-elect.

This will be Modi's first visit to the Maldives as prime minister. Modi’s trip With this trip, Modi will complete visits to all seven South Asian countries since taking office on May 26 2014.

"I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr. Solih the desire of the Indian Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity & human resource development," Modi said in a series of tweets.

 

He said the recent elections in the Maldives represent the collective aspirations of the people for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future. 

"We in India strongly desire to see a stable, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives," the prime minister said.

He also congratulated Solih on his victory in the recent elections and wished him "the very best for his tenure".

 

Modi was supposed to visit the Maldives in March 2015 but it was called off at the last minute given the political turmoil in the country, the arrests and detention of political opponents by then President Abdullah Yameen.

(With agency inputs)